Collapsible shoe tree and stretcher



Jan. 5, 1932. J. SCHMUCKER COLLAPSIBLE SHOE TREE AND STRETCHER Filed Dec. 22, 1950 INVENTOR. /'0%/1 sc'mucka' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 their FATE JOHN SCHMUCKER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA COLLAPSIBLE SHOE TREE AND STRETCHER Application filed December 22, 1930. Serial No. 584,034.

This invention relates to a collapsible shoe tree and stretcher.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved foldable device for stretching shoes, whether for home use or for the use of the shoemaker, which is adapted both to stretch footwear and to maintain the footwear upon which it is used in proper shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with other improved features thereof, an improved locking element to prevent the premature folding up of the parts of the device While the same are in use or while the operating means is being manipulated to stretch the footwear.

Still another object is to provide, in con junction with the coneavo-convex plates which engage the interior of the footwear, improved means for mounting the operating parts of the device upon said plates.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal mid-section of the device showing the same in the folded condition.

Fig. 2 is a view which is mainly a longitudinal mid-section of the device, but fragments thereof being shown in side elevation. In this view the device is shown within. a shoe in position for stretching the same the shoe body being shown in section.

Fig. 3is a right end elevation of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the device comprises a concavo-convex vamp plate 5 which has riveted or otherwise secured to the inner face thereof near its large position shown in Fig. 1 said sleeve 30 is in operative engagement with the screw threads of the thrust rod 11.

, The left end of the thrust rod ll'as viewed in Fig. 2, has hinged thereto a head 12, said head being provided with a neck or shank portion 13 and said rod 11 having bifurcations 14: between which said shank 13 is pivotally secured by means of the pin 15. To the top of'said head 12 is secured in any suitable manner a'driven bevel gear 1'? which meshes with a driving bevel gear 18, the latterbevel gear being fixed to or made as a part of a drivinghead 19 which is secured in any suitable manner to the end portion of anoperating shaft 21.

The parts which have just been described are mounted in an operative position by means of the lower or inner bearing member 23 which is'carried by or formed as a part of the heel or counter plate 25, said counter plate having also an upper bearing 26. The operating shaft 21 is shownprovided with an operating head 2? having the oppositely disposed arnis or handle portion 28.

In order to stabilize the action of driven gear 17, said gear is shown fixed to a stub shaft 17%, the-outer end of which has its bearing ina socketed lug 25m formed in the inner or lower end portion of the counter plate 25. The lug 2500 also provides an efiective thrust bearing against which the end of the stub shaft 17% presses when the thrust rod 11 is extended by rotating the operating rod 21.

In order to prevent an undersired folding up of the parts while the same are in the operative position shown in Fig. 2, a locking sleeve 30 is provided which slidably fits the screw threaded thrust rod 11. When said locking sleeve 30 encloses the bifurcated portion 1% of the rod 11 it prevents the occcurrence of a folding movement between the hinged head 12 and the thrust rod 11. hen it is desired to fold up the appliance to the moved over the screw threaded portion of the rod 11 thus permitting a folding movement between said head12 and the rod.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the foregoing description.

Claims: I 1. In a shoe stretching device, a counter plate having an upper bearing and a main bearing member to cooperate with said upper bearing, an operating rod journaled upon said main bearing member and said other bearing, a driving gear secured to the end portion of said operating rod which is journaled in said bearing member, a driven gear member also journaled in said bearing member, a thrust rod having a hinged connection with said driven gear member, a sleeve slidable over the hinged connection between said driven gear member and said thrust rod to preventthe operation of the hinge and maintain said thrust rod in an angular position with relation to said operating bar, and a vamp member adapted to stretch the toe portionot the shoe and maintain it in a screw threaded relation to said thrust rod.

2. In a shoe stretching device, a counter plate having an upper bearing and a main bearing member to cooperate with said upper bearing, an operating rod journaled upon said main bearing member and said other bearing, a driving gear secured to the end portion of said operating rod which is jour naled in said bearing member, a driven gear member also journaled in said main bearing membe, a thrust rod having a hinged connection with said driven gear member, means to lock said driven gear member against folding with relation to said thrust rod during the operation of the device for stretching purposes, and a vamp member adapted to stretch tl e toe portion of the shoe and being mounted in a screw threaded relation to said thrust rod.

3,111 a shoe stretching device, a counterengagmg member, an operating rod rotatably mounted upon said member, a driving gear fixed to said operating rod, a vamp engaging member, a thrust rod to extend said vamp-engaging member, said vamp-engaging member being in a screw threaded relation-to said thrust rod, said thrustrod being provided with a driven gear adapted to mesh with said driving gear to'extend the thrust rod, there being a pivotal relation between said thrust rod and said operating rod in order that said rods may be moved from a folded to an operative'relation to each other, and means for locking said rods against movement from the operat-ive to the fold- I ing relation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my slgnature.

JOHN so HMUoK R; 

